Applying for a new job can be a daunting task, but anyone in the field of education knows that integrity and honesty in your application reign supreme.
However, in the quest to be efficient and word perfect, many job applications from teachers now rely on the use of artificial intelligence-generated personal statements and educational philosophies.
Here are three reasons why applicants should avoid this approach:
1. Unnatural tone and style
We know that you want to sound knowledgeable and current, but AI uses algorithms full of jargon and educational buzzwords to put together what usually ends up sounding excessively verbose and contrived.
For example, when applicants describe their educational philosophy, phrases such as: “I advocate for a student-centric instructional paradigm” and “I aim to promote holistic development by addressing social, emotional and ethical aspects alongside cognitive skills” sound overly complex and will make leaders reading your application suspicious that you haven’t come up with the words by yourself.
Such an application might make it sound like you know what you’re talking about, but if you haven’t written it yourself, you might be stuck when questioned further at interview.
2. Lack of a personal touch
When generic phrases such as those mentioned above are used, they can sound false, formal and lack the personal touch.
AI generators have a robotic formula for the way letters are structured. Having read so many letters of application this year, I have become skilled at spotting the formula, which goes something like this: a generic opening paragraph about your deep passion for education, followed by some reference to your experience, then something about how the school aligns with your own educational philosophy, concluding with “please see my resumé for more details”.
While this content is, to some extent, relevant, the lack of personalisation and evidence of the impact of your experiences means school leaders won’t get a feel for who you are as a teacher.
Your letter should give schools a window into your personality. This is what will get you to the interview stage.
Starting it with “Dear Principal” and referring to the school throughout as “your school” is plain lazy and gives the impression that you are firing out numerous generic applications. In the world of applying to academic establishments, one size does not fit all.
3. Insincere flattery
The most cringeworthy aspect of AI-generated responses is the overly flattering, insincere generic statement evident in phrases such as: “I admire your esteemed institution’s commitment to excellence” or “I am inspired by your innovative approach to education”.
AI generates a generic tone and the following sort of paragraph is becoming all too common:
“I am particularly drawn to [School Name] because of its reputation for academic excellence, commitment to student-centred learning and vibrant school culture. I am inspired by the opportunity to work alongside passionate educators who share my dedication to empowering students to reach their full potential.”
If compliments such as this aren’t rooted in actual evidence, showing that you have researched the school in depth, such disingenuous comments show a lack of genuine engagement and interest in the school.
What does this say about you as a teacher, and the connections and relationships you hope to build with the school community?
Keep it real
While we cannot deny that AI can be valuable, and we know it’s here to stay, if you are a teacher applying for a job, it is best to avoid using it to generate your letters of application or flesh out your educational philosophy.
For school leaders responsible for the hiring process, the ability to recognise some of these tell-tale signs will ensure you continue to only employ dedicated practitioners.
Ultimately, if you want to be a successful applicant, then be yourself.
Maddy Jones is assistant head of secondary at The International School @ ParkCity in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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